One of the things I like most about Manizales is that the people are generous, welcoming, and kind. I spent years of my life living in cities like New York and Los Angeles. The vibes were a little bit different.

Of course, generalizing the inhabitants of a city is a dangerous thing to do (and I do love LA). There are incredible and compassionate people in every big city, just as there are troubled souls here in Manizales. Nevertheless, the ethos of community and togetherness present in this town is something that I never felt while living in the United States.

It’s also so interesting to meet people abroad and realize that they are so similar to yourself. We’re not as different as you think. On Saturday night I went out to see a DJ who spun electronic music that we would hear in LA. The only difference was that the beer was $1 instead of $10.

I met up the next day with some of the people I met at the bar, and it became clear we were all on the same wavelength. We all started realizing the importance of gratitude and wonder in everyday life. We are making concerted efforts to value relationships over paychecks. We’re all trying to figure out life.

It felt like I had known these people my whole life. Perhaps when you start thinking in a certain way you attract other people who are on the same path. They made me feel like I belong.

I suppose we can all probably find this feeling no matter where we are. There are like-minded people all over the globe–you just need to find them. By opening yourself up and being receptive to new experiences you give yourself a chance to grow.

I invite everyone to try stepping out of your comfort zone and meeting new people who might be able to help you on your journey. We all belong. Some of us might just not know it yet.